Albanian PM Rama’s ‘Northern Epirus’ remarks spark backlash in Greece
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s recent comments in Thessaloniki about the "Northern Epirus" issue have sparked widespread reactions and heightened tensions between Greece and Albania. Speaking in Thessaloniki, Rama referred to the "Northern Epirus" topic as a matter of the past, stating, “These are issues that should no longer concern us in the 21st century.”
The statement received a sharp response from Athens, with the Greek Foreign Ministry asserting, "History cannot be forgotten, and the full protection of the rights of the Greek minority is a prerequisite for Albania's EU accession process." This stance underscores the importance of recent EU decisions, particularly those made by its 27 member states on October 11, 2024.
During the event, far-right Greek protestors gathered to oppose Rama’s presence, voicing their views on Northern Epirus (a southern region in Albania that some Greek revisionists claim as historical Greek territory). Rama referred to these protestors as "ghosts of the past," emphasizing that such sentiments harm Greek-Albanian relations. "Northern Epirus is a term of the past, and those using it refuse to live in the 21st century," Rama remarked.
Rama’s statements quickly fueled debate across Greek social media and media platforms. While some warn that such remarks could damage relations between the two nations, others highlighted the fragile nature of Greek-Albanian ties, which remain strained by longstanding national issues
